Nonrefillable cap for bottles



July 19, 1949. bo v 7 2,476,587

NONREFILLABLE CAP FOR BOTTLES I Filed July 51,1946 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 {NVENTOR 6 0.3 DQbLIn ATTORNEYS July 19, 1949. J. DOBLIN 2,476,537

' NONREFILLABLE CAP FOR BOTTLESv Filed July 31, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z fgg:d \i v I ATTORN EYS Patented July 19, 194

N ONREFILLABLE CAP FOR BOTTLES Jay lioblin, Laurelton, N. Y assignor to Schenley Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,489

This invention relates to a non-refillable cap for bottles, containers and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple device adapted for effectively sealing a container, dispensing the contents thereof and preventing re-use or refilling of the container after it has once been emptied.

For the attainment of the above objects and such other objects as may hereinafter'appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated two embodiments of the invention in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a cap embodying one form of the invention attached to a bottle which has been inverted and pressed down into a dispenser (not shown) carrying a pouring tube for draining off the contents of the bottle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the closed condition of the cap after the contents of the bottle has been emptied and the pouring tube removed, preventing refilling of the bottle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cap taken along line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cap showing a stopper or plug in place to seal the cap and retain the valve before use;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a cap embodying another form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the components of the cap illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring first to the embodiment of my invention illustrated-in Figs. 1-4 and particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the non-refillable cap is formed with a skirt or collar portion 10 for attachment to a bottle and a downwardly projecting body portion II which enters the neck l2 of the bottle when the cap is aflixed to the bottle.

A passageway I3 is provided in the body portion ll extending longitudinally therethrough. The body portion H is {also provided with a lateral recess l4 within which a valve l5 may be slidably mounted. A compression spring [6 disposed between the valve l5 and the inner end of the lateral recess [4 normally acts to urge the valve [5 outwardly to operative position (as shown in Fig. 2) closing or blocking the passageway 13. Fig. 4 also shows a stopper or plug l1 insertable within the passageway l3 to retain the valve l5 and seal the cap before use.

4 Claims. (Cl. 215-19) 2 r The assembly just described and shown in Fig. 4 I is then cemented or otherwise permanently affixed to the neck 1 2 of the bottlein the position shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. When the neck [2 of the bottle has an external thread, the collar portion Ill of the cap may be internally threaded for attachment to the bottle and then cemented or otherwise permanently affixed.

The bottle is inverted and pressed down into a dispenser (not shown) carrying a pouring tube i8which enters the passageway iii in the cap within which the plug I! is temporarily located. As the. pouring tube l8, which preferably carries a longitudinal depression l9 to permit the entrance of air into the bottle, enters the bottle and assumes the position-shown in Fig. 1, the plug 1 1 is pushed out of the cap and into the interior of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The inserted pouring tube I8 retains the valve I5 in theinoperative position shown in Fig. 1.

i The contents of the bottle can now be drained through the tube l8, air simultaneously entering the bottle through depression I9. When the bottle has been emptied, the tube [8 is removed.

As the tube l8 leaves the passageway 13, the valve I5 is urged outwardly by the spring It to the operative position, shown in Fig. 2, closing the passageway I3.. It is then impossible to refill the bottle. The tube I8 is preferably attached to. the dispensing apparatus so that when the empty bottle is pulled upwardly away from the dispensing apparatus, the tube i8 is automatically pullled out of the passageway l3 in the nonreflllable cap.

Referring to the recess I4 in which valve [5 is slidably located, it will be noted that the right half section thereof is of greater diameter than the left half section thereof. In addition, valve 15 is of smaller diameter than the said right half section A of saidrecess [4. By reason of the foregoing, when said valve l5 is'in the operative or closed position shown in Fig. 2, it is more dinicult for any one to tamper with said valve through passageway l3. It becomes increasingly difiicult for any one to moveior return said valve 15 to its original inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, because any pressure upon the said valve immediately throws the same off center and it is then no longer possible for it to be returned to its original position within left half section B of recess l4.

Figs. 5-7 illustrate a non-refillable cap embodying another form of the invention.

In this embodiment the non-refillable cap is formed with a body portion 20 carrying an internally threaded collar portion 2| for attachment to the externally threaded neck l2 of a bottle. A passageway or hole 22 is provided in the body portion 20. The body portion 20 may have an annular groove 23 for receiving the lower end of a cylindrical valve chamber 24 which may be fastened to the body portion 20 by means of threads, press fit or in any other desired manner. A'pass'ageway or hole 25 carriedbythejbas'e of the valve chamber 24-is aligned with the pas sageway or hole in the body portion 20.

Within the valve chamber 24 is pivotally mounted by means of pins 26a rotary valve 21 having a longitudinal recess 28. 'tn'sionin'g" spring 29 having ends prdject'ingfin opposite directions is mounted on pin"'2fi"ivith orie iid in the body portion 20. A stopper or plug His insertable within the cap through the aligned passageways 22; and 2 5, the body portion ifl and: the valve chamber 24 respectively and the longitudinal recess; 28 in the rotary valve Zl and whenin -position *seals the cap andfholds the rotary valve-2'1 in inoperative position; The tensioning spring 23 acts to rotate the" valve 21 and to close'the passageway through-the cap defined by passagewayfl,longitudinal recess '28 and passageway-25; -The cap assembly just described functions in the same manneras thecapinitially described g ,r ma a H The cap assembly is screwedonto neck l2 of a bottle and then cemented or otherwise permanently fixed in the position'shown in Fig.- '5; Similarly, the bottle is inverted and pressed downon a dispenser"'(not'showri) carrying-"a pouring tube l81 which enters-successively the passageway 22 in the body *portion 'fll; the longitudinal recess 28 intherotary valve 2.1: and the passageway 25'in-thebase ofithe valve chain- .i l i 1 i 7h the pouring tube l8 enters the bottle and assumes-the position shown in Fig; 5, the plug' "is pushed out of the cap-and into the interior of the bottle. The in'serted'tubelll'holdsthe rotary valve 21 in the inoperative position-shown in Fig. 5. The contents of the bottle'can'nowbe' drained through" the tube l8. After the bottle has been emptied, it is drawn ofi the tube 18f As the tube 18 passes out of the lower passageway 22 in the cap body 'portion'2ll; the valve 2'l"'i s rotatediby the spring 29.-and.closes the passage way through the cap, thereby making "it iiri: possible to refill or re-use-the bo'ttle.

-Since certain modifications in'the non-refillable cap which embody" the invention "may be made without departingfrom its scope; we in tended that allmatter contained 'intl'ie above description or shown in the accompanying draw-f ing shall be interpreted merely as illustrative and not-in'a limitingsense.

Having describedmy invention and illustrated its use, what I=claim as new"and desire to secure" by Letters Patent'isr 1. A non-refillable cap for bottles and like containers comprising a collar portion adapted for permanent attachment to the neck of the container, a body portion having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough and a lateral recess therein, a spring-actuated valve member disposed within said recess and normally tending to close said passageway and a removable pllfg insertablie withinfsjaidj passageway for retaining' said valve member in its inoperative position.

2. A non-refillable cap for bottles and like containers comprising a collar portion adapted for permanent attachment to the neck of the containerg 'a bodypdrtion having a longitudinal passageway"'extendihg therethrough and a lateral recess therein, a spring-actuated valve member s'iidablyinounted within said recess and normally tending to close said passageway and a removable plug insertable within said passageway for retaining said valve member in its, inoperative position.

an n-refillame can o -bot l s and li e containers comprising a collar portion. adapted for permanent attachment to the neck ofithe, container, a body pprtion integral with, said collar portion, extending into the nec k, opening of'the container, "said body portion having, a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough and a transverselyrextending'; hole, intersecting said passageway, a spring actuated valve, member slidably mounted within said hole and normally tending to close said passageway, and a removable plug mounted within; said longitudinal passageway .a nd;preve1. in aidvalve member ,fro'mfclosn idnn ae way:

4; A non-refillable cap, in accordance with claim 3 in which the transversely-extending hole is enlarged in thearea. of its intersection with the longitudinally-extending passageway, theree by providing a shoulder insaid hole adj acentlsaid longitudinaljpassagewayt said shoulder providing a stop for the valve member after the valve memberhas been, releasedinto its normalposition in the enlarged end of the hole, closing the longitudinal, passageway. to prevent said valve member from being; pushed back. into its non operative position in the smaller end. of the t ansverse hole.

- JAY DQBLINL me this patentf NlTERfiJ-"Afilfit RA EN 

